5 Mistakes People Make When Taking Liquid Fish Oil

If you are already taking a liquid fish oil product, give yourself a big pat on the back! You’ve clearly done your research, and pay attention to the details. You realize that for an omega-3 oil to be effective, you need a high-quality product that’s fresh, easy-to-swallow, and absorbs efficiently.

Over the two decades I’ve worked with omega-3s, however, I still see many customers make mistakes when taking their liquid fish oil. Mistakes that actually prevent them from experiencing the brain, microbiome, joint, and cardiovascular benefits of these potent fatty acids.

If you are first investing in the freshest liquid fish oil, make sure your money doesn’t go to waste. Here are the top 5 mistakes people frequently make – and how to fix them.

1) Taking the Wrong Fish Oil Dose

One of the biggest benefits of liquid fish oil (including cod liver oil) is that it provides an effective, easy-to-swallow omega-3 dose. For example: Depending on the composition and capsule brand, you’d have to take a good 10 fish oil capsules every day to get as much EPA/DHA as you’d get in one tablespoon of Omega Cure®!

Here at Omega3 Innovations, we strongly recommend that adults take 3 teaspoons (the same as one tablespoon) of Omega Cure daily. Omega Cure’s good taste and smell make it easy to enjoy that daily dose ‘straight’ or by adding it to yogurt or juice. Still, many people frequently under-serve themselves when taking their “liquid gold.”

Measuring Doses Can Present a Challenge

For some individuals, it’s a matter of miscalculation. For instance, I will be the first to admit that it can be hard to get a tablespoonful of liquid up to your mouth without spilling. To avoid dripping fish oil onto their shirt, many folks don’t fill up the spoon completely.

If this sounds familiar, I recommend pouring your daily Omega Cure dose into a measuring cup so that you can fill it up without worrying about spilling! We include measuring cups with every Omega Cure shipment, in case you don’t already have a good measuring device at home.

As an alternative, you can also opt for Omega Cure Extra Strength or Omega Restore instead. These TSA-friendly containers cost roughly the same per serving as our larger 8.5 oz bottles and include a perfectly-measured dose without the risk of spilling.

Unsure if you are getting an effective omega-3 dose? Use a measuring cup! It’ll be less messy and more accurate than using a kitchen spoon.

“Getting a Little Omega-3 Is Better Than Nothing”

Some people also confess that they purposefully take a smaller-than-recommended dose because the oil is costly and they are trying to make it last. Unfortunately, there just isn’t a lot of research showing that “getting a little omega-3 is better than nothing.”

Think of omega-3s like antibiotics: To see beneficial effects, you need to maintain a certain threshold dose. From brain health to managing chronic pain, studies have consistently shown that higher doses of omega-3 fish oil are vital for results.

Summary: To get a return on your omega-3 investment, make sure that you are getting an effective dose. For adults taking the recommended 3 teaspoons daily, you’ll know you’re on track if you go through an Omega Cure 8.5 oz bottle every 17 – 18 days.

2) Letting Your Fish Oil Go Rancid

As we’ve discussed in many articles, getting fresh omega-3 fish oil is important for both safety and efficacy reasons. Finding a product that is manufactured with freshness in mind is critical, but customers also need to understand how their actions can impact freshness.

Oxygen is the biggest culprit in fish oil oxidation. Once you crack open a bottle and expose the oil to oxygen, it will turn rancid with time.

When I talk with customers, I occasionally speak with parents who are feeding their children Omega Cure from the same bottle for months. Please don’t do that! If the oil has started to taste and smell unpalatably fishy, get a new bottle.

Summary: Once you open a bottle of Omega Cure, use it up within 5 – 6 weeks. You can keep unopened Omega Cure bottles in the freezer for up to 6 months.

3) Taking Omega-3 Oil on an Empty Stomach

One of the big benefits of liquid fish oils compared to omega-3 pills is their superior bioavailability. The digestive system doesn’t break down gelatin capsules until they are far down in the intestinal tract, minimizing contact with our gut bacteria. Liquid products, on the other hand, freely interact with our beneficial microbes from the time the oil enters the mouth. The result is greater microbial health and improved absorption.

While liquid omega-3s are more efficiently digested, some folks can feel a bit queasy after swallowing a tablespoon of cod liver oil on an empty stomach. This isn’t surprising: Swallowing a tablespoon of any oil can be hard on your digestive system without other complementary nutrients.

Summary: Omega-3s are best absorbed when consumed with or following a meal. If you don’t normally take your daily dose of Omega Cure with a meal, consider taking your oil together with a small snack (like a piece of fruit, some yogurt, or kefir). You can also consider our omega-3 meal replacements – like Omega Passion® or Omega Cookie® – which combine 1500 – 2000 mg of EPA/DHA with gluten-free fiber, dark chocolate, and other healthful ingredients.

Omega Passion combines 1500 mg of EPA/DHA omega-3s with gluten-free oats, non-alkalized dark chocolate, Greek yogurt, and vitamin D3. It’s a smart, tasty choice for those who want to get their daily omega-3s in solid food form. 

4) Not Taking Fish Oil Consistently

Developing a new routine can be tricky. Last week, I vowed to do 100 squats every other day…and I must admit, I’ve missed more than once!

If that’s how you feel about taking Omega Cure, you have my full empathy. Frankly, I think it’s important to cut ourselves some slack on occasion. We can dust ourselves off, and work on getting back to the routine again.

With that being said, I do sometimes hear from customers who deliberately skip taking Omega Cure on the weekends, when school’s not in session, while on vacation, etc. While I can understand the impulse to save money or give yourself a ‘cheat day,’ I don’t recommend it. Here’s why:

First, regularly skipping your daily omega-3 dose increases the likelihood of forgetting to take it at all. Secondly, it’s more likely that you won’t feel a difference because you’re preventing your body from building up an adequate supply. Omega-3s are integral to the healthy functioning of all of our cells. For that reason, they are used up quickly. To optimally carry out their roles, our cells need a regular supply of these fatty acids (and typical “Western diets” simply don’t provide enough).

I’m not saying that if you miss a day, you’ll be doomed to a life of perpetual brain fog and aching joints. But I am saying that if you are first investing in a quality omega-3 product, don’t intentionally deprive yourself of good results.

Summary: To the best of your ability, take your liquid fish oil daily. Build a routine by taking your dose at the same time every day, setting a reminder alarm on your phone, or adding a post-it note to your refrigerator. My son, who can get easily distracted, will typically leave his Omega Restore vial on the kitchen counter so he sees it and remembers to take it before bed.

If you regularly travel for business or pleasure, Omega Cure Extra Strength or Omega Restore are also good everyday options. Both products have a 14-day shelf life at room temperature.

Most Americans have too low omega-3 index levels, with numbers typically in the 3% – 5% range. Those who consistently take an effective Omega Cure dose normally achieve index levels in the desirable range of 8% and higher. 

5) Not Giving It Enough Time to Work

No liquid fish oil provides a “quick fix.” Just like it takes time to see the results of exercise, it takes time for the omega-3s to build up in your cells. While some customers report feeling a difference in a matter of a few weeks, it more commonly takes up to 3 months to document clinical effects.

Interestingly, research indicates that fish oil users frequently experience increased benefits up to one year before the effects start to plateau. In other words, if you’ve used Omega Cure and seen noticeable improvements within three months, you’ll likely see even better results at the one-year mark.

Summary: Pay attention to how long you have been using your omega-3 product as you assess its effects. If you are new to taking Omega Cure, track your intake during that first 90 day period on a calendar.

You Deserve to Benefit from Your Liquid Omega-3 Supplement

If you are using Omega Cure for specific benefits, I encourage you to document your progress. For instance, if you are hoping to improve your lipid levels or omega-3 index, then schedule your blood work appointment 3 months after you start taking the oil. If you are hoping to improve your level of joint comfort while exercising, then think of a measurable way to document that. You can read some of the ideas that other customers have shared with us over the years here.

Just like anything worth doing, taking liquid fish oil is worth doing right. With time, consistency, an emphasis on freshness, and attention to getting an effective daily dose, I am confident that you will experience significant benefits using Omega Cure, Omega Cure Extra Strength, or Omega Restore.

An Effective Omega-3 Dose, Made Simple

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